Hot beverage dispensing machine



3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS.

KHOREN C. MELIKIAN 8.

LLOYD K. RUDD ATTORNEY K. C. MELIKIAN ET AL HOT BEVERAGE DISPENSING MACHINE July 6, 1954 Filed Feb. s, 195o July 6, l954 K. c. MELIKIAN ET AL HOT BEVERAGE DISPENSING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1950 INVENTORS. KHOREN QMELIKIAN 'a LLOYD K. RUDD ATTORNEY July 6, 1954 K. c. MELIKIAN ET AL HOT BEVERAGE DISPENSING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 8, 1950 INVENTORS.

KHOR'EN c. MELlKlAN a LLOYD K. RUDD ATTORNEY Patented July 6, 195,4

HOT BEVERAGE DISPENSING MACHINE Khoren C. Melikian, Philadelphia, and Lloyd K. Rudd, Wayne, Pa., assignors to Rudd-Melikian Corporation, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 8, 1950, Serial No. 143,096

This invention relates to machines for dispensing beverages and more particularly to a machine for dispensing hot beverages such as coiee and the like. v

It is an object of our invention to provide a machine for dispensing a mixture of hot water and liquid coffee extract under controlled conditions and utilizing a solenoid valve combined in a unique manner with other elements for dispensing coffee extract.

It is another object of our invention to provide a machine having a high safety factor 'and suitable to automatic regulation.

It is a further object of our invention to provide al machine of rugged, simple and compact construction which lends itself to economical and convenient maintenance.

It is a still Vfurther object of our invention to provide a machine which requires little or no attention on the part of an operator, and which can be operated by simple push button controls.

In general, our machine comprises a hot water tank in which an electric heating element is immersed and wherein the water is constantly heated under thermostatic control. A novel drain arrangement permits expansion of the water as heating occurs, the tank being fed 'cold water under pressure by a solenoid valve under man` ual control in order to displace an equivalent' novel venting systemhcrombined with the drain arrangement. A system of automatic wherein such components are, housed in a casing mounted directly on the tank, and wherein a solei noid for a coffee extract valve is mounted within the casing so as to make a compact unit of almost all the electrical components of the machine.

A detailed description of our invention will now be given in conjunction with the appended drawing in which:

Figure 1 isa front View of the exterior of the machine,

Figure 2 is a section taken through 2-2 of Figure 1,

-Figure 3 is a plan view looking down into the casing and showing the electrical components, and

Figure 4 is a perspective of the water tank and base showing details of construction thereof.

Figure 5 shows a fragmentary detail of the valve structure.

electrical control comprising various electrical components is utilized,`

11 Claims. (Cl. 222-108) y, insulation panel 9| With reference to the drawing, our machine comprises an outer rear shell I0, having a front platel I4, a base I8, and a cover plate 22. Shell I0 and base I8 are secured together by means of the upturned ange 24 on the base, as by a plurality of bolts 3U.

Spaced inwardly from respective end flanges 24 (Figure 4) are flanges 34 and fastened to these are arcuately cut plates 31 which support a water tank 40 to which they are fastened. i

Forming part of the base I8 is a drain pan 43 and various guides for iiexible tubing ends, such as 41 and 50. Ventilating holes 53 covered by a metal mesh 56 are provided in base I8. A drain platform 51 is pivotally attached to front plate I4 at 58 and for support of a receptacle or cup. An end of the water tank is recessed to accommodate a heater element 60, a soleoid operated water control valve 63 and a thermostatic control element B6, all for a purpose to be hereinafter described, said elements being mounted on the recessed wall 10 of the tank. Secured to the periphery of the tank is a vent collar 13, a spout 16 and spaced brackets 19.

As shown in phantom in Figure 2, a wrapper of insulation surrounds the tank, which may be applied in any suitable manner.

Between the brackets 19 is secured an electrical control box whilst secured above the box is anice chest 88, suitably bolted to the housing members Il] and I4. Cover 22 carries an therein,V as shown in Figure 2. y; Y V

jA coffee extract container 94 rests near the bottom of the ice chest on a gasket 95 which fits sealingly within a port 95 in the bottom of the chest and is attached thereto. It will be understood that the spacing around container -94 is utilized for a packing of chipped ice which upon melting drains through port 31 and a itube H10 shown in phantom, the end of which is secured in member 41 (Figure 4) into drain pan 43. pass through box 85, but terminates in a funnel |03 at its .upper end (Figure 2) disposed below Y port 91 and secured by soldering at both ends.

It should be noted that tube Iilil does not therefrom, protruding slidably into. the center of the solenoid, whence it will be understood that container s4 and tube i l5 may be removed from the machine as an integral unit. Carried slidably within the tube [l5 is an armature lil which is in reality a valve stem having upper and lower heads 23 and |2, respectively, alternately seatable against seats |29 and |32, respectively. Seat |29 is secured within tube H5 and a cylinder |33 having perforations near the bottom thereof is likewise secured to tube l l5, and to seat |29, thus making an integral unit whereby cylinder i553 may be grasped to remove container 94 from the ice chest. A tube |34 is secured in seat |2 for venting chamber |35 when coffee extract is flowing therefrom.

Armature E28 is polygonal in cross-section, triangular preferably, so that uid trapped in quantity predetermined by the volume of chamber E35Y and the region around the armature body can flow down the sides when the armature is raised upon energization of the solenoid llt, to thus deliver a measured charge of coffee extract. The armature is normally maintained by its ownweight against the lower seat.

A funnel 40 is secured to the base of box 85 within the confines of tunnel IE6, a port |43 being provided in the bottom of the box so that spout 'it and tube l l5 can empty into the funnel thereby mixing hot water and coifee extract therein for pouring into a receptacle standing on the drain platform.

Tank and spout oentz'lating and drain system With reference to Figures 2 and fl, it will be noted spout 'I6 terminates in a lip |46 although the top portion of the tube extends to another lip lili) which is over funnel |40. Lip |46 is suitably disposed over a iiexible drain tube |52 secured at its upper end to the bottom of box 85 by means of a nipple |55 and at its lower end it is secured in the nipple 50 over the drain pan 43. The upper end of spout 'l5 is disposed concentrically in the vent cap 'i3 which is closed at its top by a disc lli having a perforate center in which a vent tube ISI is secured and which extends into the upper end of the spout, being spaced from the walls thereof. The purpose of this arrangement is to allow for drainage of hot water via spout 'it to tube |52 to compensate for expansion of the water being heated, Thus, no pressure is built up in the tank. Further, owing to the open passage in vent tube |6|, spout 'i6 is constantly drained, so that there is no tendency for water in the spout to be retained. When water is being drawn from the tank (due to opening of solenoid valve 63 to force water in at the bottom as previously explained) the momentum of the moving column of water passing downwardly through the spout is suflicient to continue the flow past lip Mt as far as lip |49 where it is deflected into funnel |40. Thus no water is lost via the drain tube |52 when a receptacle is being iilled. It is, of course, essential that valve 53 open to a sufcient degree to attain the required velocity in the spout. However, we have found the velocity required is not critical and that an ordinary convenient rate of discharge into a cup or glass without splashing therein is quite suitable.

The electrical control structure As heretofore mentioned, most of the electrical components are housed in casing 85, in particular the solenoid I0 for the coffee valve. Other electrical components are: a relay |50, a timing mechanism |63, a hot water control microswitch 66, and a microswitch Il@ which controls both the coffee and water valves to provide a mixture of these liquids in proper proportion. The microswitches are suitably carried by brackets lll fastened to the front wall of casing 35.

T'he specic circuit for effecting these functions is substantially as disclosed in our icc-pending application Serial No. 89,048 led April 1949; wherein reference is made to the present application. It should be noted that the water valve of the circuit shown in the co-pending application, although sometimes referred to therein as a hot water valve, is actually utilized for our purposes to control the cold water to the bottom of the tank; it is believed that control of the cold water in a tank having no internal pressure other than atmospheric has certain practical advantages particularly in combination with our drain and vent system.

The microswitches are actuated by respective push buttons |13 and |16 carried on front panel |4, each having a pin |19 engageable with a pin |82 of the respective switch, Figure 2.

It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art that the electrical components of this disclosure may be wired up to conform to the circuit shown in our co-opending application, all components being essentially as there sym- -bolically disclosed, except that in the present instance we have chosen to eliminatejthe single pole double throw switch for providing ow of coffee extract alone, this being an optional feature which we do not regard as essential to the present case; obviously, conventional connections may replace this switch. Further, it will be apparent that the timing motor cycle must be sustained a suflicient period to permit complete emptying of the predetermined charge of coifee extract within tube H5.

The hook-up of the heating element 6 and thermostat B6 is of a generally conventional nature, although the mechanical combination with the recessed tank we believe to be novel.

In view of the detailed description hereinabove given, and further in view of our co-pending application, it appears that the operation of this machine need not be further amplined. We particularly wish to point out that the present disclosure is drawn to contain specific features such as a compact arrangement of many electrical elements, primarilyA brought about by the recessed tank and the mounting of the electrical box on the front of the tank, as well as the novel mounting of the ice chest and mode of support of the coffee container wherebyit is readily removable for cleansing. In addition, the venting and drainage elements per se and also as coacting in space arrangement with the electrical control box are an important aspect of oar invention. Finally, the shell construction making all parts readily accessible is believed to be novel; and although we show a specic embodiment of all the above features we believe the invention to be broader than the particular illustration and accordingly do not seek to be limited thereto except as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

l. .e beverage dispensing machine comprising a water tank and an electrical control box, said box being mounted on said tank, a beverage reservoir mounted above said box, a Wall ofv said box having an opening disposed below said beverage reservoir, a solenoid coil within said box in alignment with said opening and another wall of said box comprising an opening in alignment with said iirst opening, a valve carried by said beverage reservoir including an armature actuatable by said solenoid, and electrical control means within said box for energizing and deenergizing said solenoid coil.

2. n a machine as set forth in claim l, including a funnel secured to the bottom of said electrical control box below said solenoid coil, and an outlet duct for water emptying into said funnel, said outlet duct communicating with said water tank.

3. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said valve comprises a casing carried by and depending from said beverage reservoir, said solenoid coil being concentric with and slidably related to said valve casing and separable therefrom and carried by said electrical control box, said armature being within said valve casing, said reservoir being removable integrally with said valve casing from said machine.

4. The combination of a container comprising a liquid reservoir having an outlet, a valve casing carried by said container communicating with said outlet, and extending outwardly from said container, said casing having a valve seat therein, an armature slidable in said Valve casing, a valve head actuable by said armature, a base, means for removably supporting said container on said base, and a solenoid coil carried by said base and having an opening into which said valve casing is adapted to protrude when said container is resting on said base.

5. A machine for dispensing hot beverages comprising a base, and a hot water tank supported thereon, including means for introducing cold water into said tank and for heating the water within said tank, outlet means from said tank, a beverage delivery funnel toward which said outlet means is directed, the outlet means from said water tank comprising an outlet tube having an inner end protruding into said tank and above the normal water level therein and having an outer end terminating predeterminedly short of said funnel but at a higher level than the top thereof, and a drain tube disposed below said outer end of said water outlet tube whereby a iiow of cold water into said tank is operative to effect flow of hot water through said outlet tube to said funnel and whereby expansion of water in said tank effects drainage through said tube to said drain tube.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 5, including a housing surrounding said water tank and concealing said drain tube and an opening in said housing through which the lower end of said funnel protrudes. f

'7. A machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein a portion of the outer end of said outlet tube is longitudinally extended for a portion of its periphery to form a baiile for directing water flow into said funnel.

8. A beverage dispensing machine comprising a liquid storage tank, an outlet tube having an open outlet and exteriorly oi said tank, said tube protruding into a wall or said tank and being formed with an inlet end adapted to extend upwardly therein to a point above the normal static liquid level, said inner end being open to the interior of said tank, and a vent tube protruding through a wall of tank and extending into the inlet end of said outlet tube and being spaced from the walls thereof.

9. A beverage dispensing' machine comprising a base, a tank supported on said base, an electrical control box supported on said water tank, a housing surrounding said tank and box, an ice chest above said box and supported by said housing, a beverage reservoir in said chest and removably supported thereby, said box having aligned upper and lower openings, a solenoid coil mounted in said box and having an open center aligned with said openings, and a valve casing carried by reservoir exteriorly thereof and protruding into said solenoid coil when said reservoir is resting in said ice chest.

l0. A machine as set forth in claim 9, including push button switch means carried by and protruding from said electrical control box and respective plunger means carried by said housing and cngag'eable with said push button means for operation thereof.

l1. A machine for dispensing hot beverages comprising a base and a hot water tank supported thereon, including means for introducing cold Water into said tank and for heating the water within said tank, outlet means from said tank, a beverage delivery funnel toward which said outlet means is directed, the outlet means from said Water tank comprising an outlet tube having an inner end protruding into said tank and above the normal water level therein and having an outer end terminating predeterminedly short of said funnel but at a higher level than the top thereof, and a drain tube disposed below said outer end of said water outlet tube whereby a flow of cold water into said tank is operative to eect ow of hot water through said outlet tube to said funnel and whereby expansion of water in said tank effects drainage through said tube to said drain tube, and a vent tube protruding through a wall of said tank and extending into the inlet end of said outlet tube and being spaced from the walls thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 326,940 Brown Sept. 29, 1885 '781,828 Jenson Feb. 7, 1905 2,433,977 Bently Jan. 6, 1948 

